• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Work with Me
  • Press/PR
  • Contact
Display Search Bar

The Kitchen Whisperer

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • Weekly Menu
  • Tuesday’s Tips

Dec122022

Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars

Print Recipe
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Find the recipe card at the end of the post. Make sure to read the content as it contains chef tips, substitution options, answers to FAQs to help you succeed the first time around!

Posts may contain affiliate links that help enable me to continue to provide you with free recipes. Please see my Privacy Policy for further details.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes.

I don’t know about you but I grew up where making Buckeye cookies was a holiday must. While they are awesome I thought, “I can elevate this!”

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

This post is being sponsored by my friends at Rodelle featuring their amazing Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting partnerships with brands I trust and believe in.

If you’re not familiar with these treats they are little balls of whipped peanut butter no-bake cookie dough then it’s almost fully dipped in chocolate to make it look like an actual buckeye.

To transform that iconic dessert I went with a fudgy cookie base, the classic peanut butter filling, salted peanuts, and the most amazing fudge topping.

Rodelle Is A Baking Must

It’s simply not the holidays without my favorite Rodelle products, Heck, it’s not a typical day of the week without using at least one of their products.

Simply put, as a Chef, Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa is the best cocoa I’ve ever used. It’s consistent, has the most amazing flavors, and is always, ALWAYS exceptional.

Due to it being Dutch-processed, it is rich in flavor and appearance. Quality is key for cocoa and with theirs having the highest levels of cocoa butter on the market, they are able to ensure superior chocolate flavor

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Grab Your Ingredients

Naturally, the star of this recipe is Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa. I’ve been using this product for decades. It’s absolutely one of the most important ingredients in your pantry for both sweet and savory dishes!

  • Dry Ingredients – Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa, sugar, leavening agents, and salt
  • Dairy – eggs, and butter
  • Chocolate Extract
  • Chocolate – I prefer a mixture of callets and chopped chocolates
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Sea Salt Flakes
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Make the Cookie Base

  1. Add the eggs, extract, and sugars whisking to combine in a bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add that to the sugar mixture and give it a little mix together with a spatula.
  3. Pour in the melted butter and mix until it becomes a thick cookie dough.
  4. Add in the chopped chocolate and callets and mix into the dough.
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
  1. Spray a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray then foil (make sure to leave a 1″ overhang all the way around). Add the dough to the pan, and spread it around into an even layer.
  2. Pop the pan into a preheated oven and bake for 23-27 minutes. You want the cookie base to be soft but not gooey. It will firm up more upon cooling.
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Make the Buckeye Filling

While the cookie base is baking, make the buckeye filling. The key to making this is to start with room-temperature butter.

  1. In a large bowl cream together the peanut butter and butter until it’s very smooth and creamy.
  2. Add in confectioners’ sugar and, with the mixer on low, start to incorporate the sugar until it becomes thick and spreadable.
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Now I know what you’re thinking… just eat the cookie base as-is and then grab a spoon to dive into the buckeye filling but sadly you really need to spread it on the cookie base.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

You’re going to spread all of the peanut butter filling on top of the cookie bar. Smooth it out into an even layer.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Once it’s all spread out, sprinkle on toasted peanuts and press them gently into the buckeye filling.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Dutch Processed Cocoa

So what is Dutch Processed cocoa anyway? Dutch-Processed cocoa is when the powder is treated with alkali to change the pH of the product. The more alkalization means the darker the cocoa.

Also noteworthy, Rodelle also offers Organic Dutch-Processed Baking Cocoa. And yes folks, it too is pretty magically amazing!

Chocolate Fudge

This is my favorite fudge-style frosting/topping and the best part, it’s only 2 ingredients:

  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Chopped Chocolate
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Let’s Make Fudge Frosting

  1. In a microwave bowl heat the sweetened condensed milk for 30-45 seconds.
  2. Add in the chopped chocolate, and stir until fully melted. If needed, microwave for 10-15 seconds at a time.
  3. Pour the fudge frosting over top and smooth it out.
  4. Once it’s all smoothed out, sprinkle with sea salt flakes.

Chef’s Tip About Fudge Frosting

Now this will set up fast so once it’s fully melted, pour it all overtop the pan of buckeye bars and spread it out with a heated offset spatula.

I place the metal spatula in a tall glass of hot water. Right before spreading out the fudge frosting, I’ll take it out of the glass, wipe it dry, and then spread it out. The heat will help easily spread out the frosting.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Take a chill

While I know it’s tough, it’s really best to place this bad boy in the fridge and allow it to set fully before diving into it. An hour is what I find works best.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Time to Eat

Once the cookie is set, remove the pan from the fridge.

  1. Grab the foil edges and gently lift the chilled cookie bar out of the pan.
  2. Using a sharp knife, slice the bars into pieces.

Now, this is a rich dessert so I would advise cutting these into 1″ slices. So in a 9×13″ pan you’d make 4 long rows and then roughly 13-one-inch slices.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

How to Store Fudgy Buckeye Bars

The beauty of these bars is that they can be stored cold (covered) or at room temp. Naturally, cover them so they don’t dry out.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Substitutions & Additions

So this is one of those recipes that, honestly, I wouldn’t change but I do have some pretty scrumptious ideas.

  • Cookie Base – Chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter cookie dough, brownies, or blondies work
  • Peanut Butter Layer – any nut butter works
  • Crunchy Additions – toasted nuts of any type, rice cereal, crushed pretzels, crispy bacon (hey I don’t judge!)
  • Fudge Topping – seriously no, don’t skip this. Try all dark chocolate or even white chocolate for a different spin.
Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Print

Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars

  • Author: TKWAdmin
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 40
  • Category: baking, cookies, bars, chocolate desserts, peanut butter chocolate, cookie exchange
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: baking, cookies, bars, chocolate desserts, peanut butter chocolate, cookie exchange

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes.

Transforming the iconic buckeye dessert into fudgy bar cookies topped with a whipped peanut butter filling, toasted peanuts, chocolate fudge, and sea salt flakes. Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 11 reviews
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review

Ingredients

Cookie

  • 1 1/2 cups / 292.1 g light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup / 100.4 g granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons / 7.8 g chocolate extract
  • 2 Xl eggs, whole and room temp
  • 1 XL egg yolk, room temp
  • 2 1/2 cups / 312.9 g all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons / 170.6 g Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons / 6.7 g baking powder
  • 1 1/2 baking soda / 5.1 g baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon / 6 g kosher salt
  • 16 Tablespoons / 226.7 g butter, melted and unsalted
  • 1 1/2 cups  / 255.5 g chocolate callets (or high-quality chocolate chips)
  • 1 1/2 cups / 251.9 g chopped chocolate (high-quality chocolate bar, chopped)

 Buckeye Filling

  • 3 cups / 851.7 g creamy peanut butter
  • 8 Tablespoons / 113.4 g butter, softened and unsalted
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Fudge Topping

  • 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 3/4 cups / 298.1 g chocolate callets (or high quality chocolate chips)

Additions

  • 1 cup / 151.7 g toasted peanuts
  • Sea Salt Flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9×13” pan with cooking spray and line it with foil leaving a 1” overhang.

Make the Cookie Base

  1. In a large bowl add the brown and granulated sugar, whole eggs, and egg yolk along with the chocolate extract; whisk to combine. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add that to the sugar mixture and give it a little mix together with a spatula. Pour in the melted butter and mix until it becomes a thick cookie dough. Add in the chopped chocolate and callets and mix into the dough. Spray a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray then foil (make sure to leave a 1″ overhang all the way around). Add the dough to the pan, and spread it around into an even layer.
  2. Pop the pan into a preheated oven and bake for 23-27 minutes. You want the cookie base to be soft but not gooey. It will firm up more upon cooling.

Make the Buckeye Filling

  1. In a large bowl cream together the peanut butter and butter until it’s very smooth and creamy. Add in confectioners’ sugar and, with the mixer on low, start to incorporate the sugar until it becomes thick and spreadable. To your cooled cookie base, spread all of the peanut butter filling on top into a smooth, even layer.
  2. Top with the toasted peanuts and gently press them into the buckeye filling.
  3. Pop the pan, uncovered into the fridge for a few minutes to firm up the filling while you make the fudge topping.

Make the Fudge Topping

  1. In a microwave bowl heat the sweetened condensed milk for 30-45 seconds. Add in the chopped chocolate, and stir until fully melted. If needed, microwave for 10-15 seconds at a time.
  2. Remove the pan from the fridge and then pour the fudge frosting over top of the buckeye filling.
  3. Once it’s all smoothed out, sprinkle with sea salt flakes.

Chill then Serve

  1. Place pan, uncovered, in the fridge to set fully; about an hour.
  2. Remove from the fridge, and slice into 1” slices (roughly 4 rows with 13 pieces per row).
  3. You can store the leftovers, covered in the fridge, or on the counter, in an air-tight container.
1 bar33028.1 g187.3 mg19.4 g36.7 g6.8 g28.3 mg

Keywords: Fudgy Buckeye Peanut Butter Bars, chocolate buckeyes, fudge frosting, peanut butter filling, buckeye cookies, holiday cookies, cookie exchange

Made this Recipe?

Tag @thekitchenwhisperer on Instagram and hashtag it #thekitchenwhisperer
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

Pairs Perfectly With:

German Chocolate Cookies The Ultimate German Chocolate Cookies
Hot Chocolate Cookies with marshmallow filling Fudgy Hot Chocolate Cookies with Marshmallow Filling
Double Chocolate Occasion Cookies for every cookie occasion! Double Chocolate Chip Occasion Cookies

Sharing is caring!

Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

View Comments

Recipe Reviews & Comments

  1. Hayley Dhanecha says

    December 19, 2022 at 7:56 am

    I love how delicious and easy these peanut butter bars are! Perfect for holiday season and so yummy.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Tammy says

    December 18, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Ahh these look so rich and decadent! What a fabulous treat to make. I’ve never made buckeye cookies before but nothing beats pb and chocolate! Gonna try this variation this week ^_^

    Reply
  3. Jamie says

    December 18, 2022 at 9:47 am

    Totally Wow! Another recipe for our all-time favorite Peanut Butter! This treat looks so yummy! Every layer has its own flavor and taste that will leave us breathless! Totally love this!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Amy Liu Dong says

    December 18, 2022 at 9:30 am

    I love how easy and delicious to make this.
    Such perfect Christmas desserts and gifting!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Comment & Review Cancel reply

Made it?
Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

let’s be friends

Subscribe for delicious new recipes, kitchen tips & weekly menus

Yeah!!! I'm so happy you are joining the TKW Family! You will get an immediate email asking you to confirm your subscription. If it's not in your inbox check your SPAM or JUNK folders. If you do not confirm it, you won't receive my newsletters.

What's Trending on TKW

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
Authentic Chicken Tortilla Soup
Instant Pot Homemade Cheesy Hamburger Helper
Chips & Dips Chipcuterie Grazing Board
Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Chicken
Baked Sheet Pan Lemon Dijon Salmon and Veggies
Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Pizza – Keto Friendly & Gluten Free
Chunky Portabella Mushroom Veggie Burgers
The Best Super Soft and Chewy Hoagie Bread Rolls
Back to Top
  • Recipe Index
  • instagram
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Site CreditsDesigned by Melissa Rose Design.Developed by Once Coupled.
92 shares